Infusion package with a non-tangling string-handle and tag



Jan. 7, A1958 H. o. IRMscHER INFUsIoN PACKAGE WITH A NoN-TANGLING s'riI'NG'fHANDLE AND TAG 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Sept. 14, 1954 @mf @MMA-a:

Jan. 7, 1958 H. o.v lRMscHER 2,319,167

INFUSION PACKAGE WITH A NON-TANGLING STRING-HANDLE AND TAG Filed Sept. 14, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E \SS INFUsroN PACKAGE wrrn A NoN-TANGLING srmNG-HANDLE AND TAG Y,

Hans 0. Irmscher, Uniondale-Hempstead, N. Y., assignor 1 l to' National Tea Packing Company, Inc., Long Island City, Nt Y., a corporation of New York Application September 14,019.54', Serial No. 455,979 I -3 claims. (ciw-77.1)

articles of manufacture, whichushallfco'mprise simple' -arrangement of parts 'that is easy nandcheap to' produce, which shall be capable of being manufactured in "quantity production on automaticlsuperhighspeed packaging machines, which s hallha've" anintermediate vportion lof the string-handle, adjoining anendmthereofanchored to a heat-sealed closure of said lpackagetemporarily retained in a slip looped configuration l,engaging'lsfa'id anchored end to eliminate possible tangling inv cartoning lor wrapping such infusion packages individually vfor use,

which shall be reliably held in, compactl condition yet have the string-handle positively released fiom lsaid temporary retainment by simply applying arpulling or lifting force on the tag, which shall avoid puttingl tearing strains on the package closure or other package'structures, which shall provide a neat and attractive package, and which shall be practical and eflicient to a high degreein use. v j

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly comprises the steps ofthe manufacturing method and features of constructions, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the method and constructions hereinafter disclosed, the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims following.

lIn the accompanying drawing in which possible illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown:

Figs. 1 and 2 are enlarged front and rear elevational views, respectively, of a tea bag manufactured with a non-tangling temporarilyretained looped configuration string-handle and tag for cartoning and as delivered to the consumer for use in a sanitary manner.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3 3 in Fig. l1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the tea bag shown in Figs. land 2 with the string-handle and tag extended ready for brewing. v

Fig. 5 is a perspective view similar'to Fig. 4,`but of a modified tea bag utilizing the heat-sealed top closure seam anges as an attachment'means for the stringhandle instead of the staple shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive.

Figs. 6 and 7 are enlarged front and rear elevational views, respectively, of the modified form of tea bag shown in Fig. 5 with the string-handle and tag arranged in a 2,819,167 Patented Jan. 7, 1958 ICC Von in a cup and also to provide a tag which bears a legend or trademark of the manufacture, grade of tea, etc. -In order to eliminate dangling of the string-handle and tag which often results in accidental tearing of the bag when cartoning and handling when individually removed for use and to provide a neat and attractive tea package delivered to the user, various temporary retaining means have been devised.

The present invention, like those shown and described in my previous Patent No. 2,490,057, granted December 6, 1949, and my co-pending application, Serial No. 306,764, iile'd August 28, 1952, is intended to provide a practical construction for producing an infusion package with a non-tangling string-handle.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 10 denotes a iilled infusion package embodying the invention constructed inthe form of a square, that is, pillow-shaped, tea bag body portion 11 provided with a non-tangling stringhandle 12 and tag 13 temporarily retained in a slip looped configuration engagementwith an anchored string-handle end 12a made readily releasable by simply applying a pulling or lifting force Without putting tearing strains o n heat-sealed top closure seam ange 11a of said body portion 11 on which the string-handle end 12a is anchored'b'y staple 14.

'As is clear from Figs. 1 to 4, tea ball 10 may have body portion 11 thereof made of a suitable thin lter sheet material strip folded over on itself to provide a rounded bottom edge 11b forming superimposed layer vportions to provide front and rear flattened sides 11c and 11d, respectively, of body portion 11, said sides 11e and 11d being secured along the marginal areas on the remaining three edge portions with seam flange 11a forming said top closure extending between spaced apart parallelly aligned seam ilanges 11e and 11j to completely seal contents T in body portion 11.

Tea bag body portion 11 may be constructed of a suitable foraminous sheet material, as for example, lter paper, coated for heat-sealing more fully described in my said Patent No. 2,490,057.

Unlike theV construction of the `non-tangling stringhandle retaining means disclosed in my said Patent No. 2,490,057, heat-sealed top closure seam flange 11a is left unslit and otherwise uncut so that tearing strains to which the package structure may be subjected in use at and about anchoring staple 14 can be reduced to a minimum in the construction embodying the invention.

String-handle end 12a is attached to top closure seam flange 11a by staple 14 in a double, overcast locked anchorage, that is, the free end of string-handle 12 passes under staple 14 on body portion rear side 11d, then loops over the extreme edge of top closure seam ange 11a as at overcast portion 12b and' again passes under staple 14 on body portion front side 11e to complete the double anchorage. l

In the non-tangling shortened position shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 elongated mid-portion 12e of string-handle 12, after leaving said double anchorage, extends under, that is, through overcast portion 12b in a hitch, that is, slip knot configuration at 12e and over said extreme edge of seam flange 11a to lie against body portion rear side 11d as large loop 12d. The end portion 12f of stringhandle 12 adjacent tag 13 repasses through overcast portion 12b and over said extreme edge of seam flange 11a knot condi" 1% byondend portion 12). in any suitable manner, such Blf-'staples' oir,l as here shown, 'tag i3 is of re1auve1y thin ub1ewiftnr'sin coated paper stock folded over "and heat-sealed together onto string-handle 12 as fully described in my said co-pending application Ser. No.

inyention may be practiced by applying stringhandlesY 12 With tags 13 to top closure seam ilanges 11a 'of tea. bag. body portions 11 each heat-sealed with contents T by means of staples 14 with said double anchorages prgviding string-handle overcast portions 12b on a highv speed tea bag manufacturing apparatus fully described in my said tio-pending application Ser. No. 306,764, after whichl each string-handle mid-portion 12C is inseited `th'r'cmgli each of said overcast portions 12b finishi'ng` 'filled tea bag packages 10 with the non-tangling shortened string-handles and tags as shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3 and thereby permitting unobstructive advancenient throughI said manufacturing apparatus for automatic cai-toning and delivering tea bag packages 10 to the user in aI 'non-tangled shortened condition.

The tea'bag package 10 may be removed from an envelope or carton container without fingering body portion 11v by simply picking up tag 13 so that the weight ofthe filled package readily pulls large loop 12a' through overcast portion 12b from its temporary trictional retained position permitting suspension of body portion 11 `bythe entire lengtli'` of string-handle 12 as shown in Fig. 4t'liereb`y aiding a's a sanitary method for manipulating 'in brewing in the well understood. manner.

The methodetnbodying the invention will now be apparent.Afte r` forming filled tea ,bag body portion 11 wthheat-'iseald top closure seam flange 11a, string-handle 12 with tag 13 previously attached to one end thereof isn'securedto seamYA flange` 11aby arranging the stringpfiosi'te,l kAtag', 13 in an overcast position I l e' 'thereto' 't s'e'r've as. said double anchor- 'agewith -tiring-lian dlef,overcastI portion 12b extending ver( edge", f s'e'In-ilangel 11a. String-handle tnidportion 1.2;2 then'4 inserted under overcast portion Iz'bqapn'arja sthrhghgin a 'mrionauylemined slip tioned' to. lie nat against lrear side 11d with tag 13 against front'- side 11i-' l A modified form embodying" the invention is Yshown 'as tea bag package 20 in'Figs.. 5, 6, 7 and 8 t9 comprise body portion 21 provided with a rounded bottornedge 217; forming superimposed layer portions as front and rear `flattened sides 21e` and 21d, respectively, of body I iQlonZl and side seam ilanges 21e and 21f for containing contents T, all similar to the corresponding parts of te' bag package 10.

instead of utilizing a stapleV for attaching string-handle end22a, the latter in a serpentine configuration is placed between an upper margin portion of sides 21a and 21d and heat-sealed therein duringfthe bag closing operation forming vheat-sealed top closure seam flange 21a as a string-handle anchorage.

n order to'. provide a non-tangling string-handle retaining means embodying the invention, the serpentine configuration of string-handle end, 22a is so arranged when heat-sealed into seam flange 21a as to provide an auxiliary loop portion 22b extending beyond the extreme edge of top closure seam tlange 21a, as is clear from Fig. 5.

In the non-tangling shortened position shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, elongated mid-portion 22e of string-handle 22 after emerging for a second time from seam flange 21a extends in slip knot conguration as at 22e through auxiliary loop portion 22' and over vsaid extreme edge of seam flange 21a to lie against body portion rear side 21d as large loop 22d to large loop 12d of package 10 The end portion 22j of string-handle 22 adjanntilfst'ring-li'andle large loop 12d is posicent tag 23 repasses through auxiliary loop portionu22b and over said et'elne edge f seam Hnge ^2in einpleting said slip knot configuration to position tag 23 at against body portion front side 21e similar to tag 13 in package 10.

In the method of manufacturing tea bag package 20, string-handle end 22a is positioned between the lupper margins of front and rear sides 21e and 21d, respectively, in a serpentine configuration for forming said auxiliary loop portion 22b and is then anchored therebetween simultaneously with the heat-sealing ofin the top closure of filled body portion 21 forming seam flange 21a. Stringhandle mid-portion 22C is then inserted through auxiliary loop portion 22b and drawn through in a frictionally retained slip knot condition until string-handle large loop 22d is positioned to lie flat against rear side 21d with tag 23 against front side 21C in a manner similar to the insertion of string-handle mid-portion 12e under overcast portion 12b in forming package 10.

Tea bag package 20 may be removed from its envelope or carton container without nngering body portion 21 in the same manner as hereinbefore described for package l0. y

It is thus seen that there are provided improved infusion packages with non-tangling string-handlesand tags and a method for manufacturing same in which the sev eral objects of the invention are achieved and which are well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use. l

As various possible embodiments might be madein the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the constructions and. method. above set forth, it is to be understood that all mattersV herein. setnforth or shown in the accompanying drawings areto beginterpreted'as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described Lny invention, I claiinas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:v A :v, .j

l. In an infusion package having astring-handlQJeB- minated by a tag, a non-tangling positioning construction for'4 said string-handle and tag comprising a, top closure sean'i. flange of/a at-pillowshaped body portion` ofsaid package, an end portion of? said string-handle opposite said tag anchored to said top. clo's'nrepseam flange and provided with a small loop extending beyondgtheaseam ilange edge, an elongated mid-portion of,saidf stringhandle between. said; string-handle anchorage and tagextending in slip knot configuration from a front sileiof said body portion through said small loopl and, over-said seam flange edge and positioned as a large loop lying lat against a rear sideof said body portion, a portion of said string-handle adjacent the tag being repassed through said small loop and over the flange edge completing said slip knot configuration to position the tagf flatfagainst s'aid body portion front sideV whereby said string-handle and tag are temporarily retained in said flat' position;

2. In an infusion package-.having-a string-handle terminated by a'tag, a non-tangling positioning construction for said string-handle and tag'. comprising a top closure seam llange of a flat pillow-shaped body portion of' said package provided,l withr a staple, an endA portion of saro string-handle opposite -said tag double anchored by the staple to provide an overlocking portion extending about the edget of said flange, an: elongated mid-pdrti'onof said string-handle between said staple and tag extending through said overlocking portion in slip knot configuration` from a front side of said body portion and over said edge of the flange and positioned as a loop lying flat against a rear side of said body portion, a portion of said string-handle adjacent the tag being repassed through said overlook portion and over the flange edge completing said slip knot configuration to position thel tag flat against body portion front side whereby said string-handle and tag are temporarily retained in said' flat position.

3-. The infusion package defined in claini l in which said top closurev seam flange is a= heat-sealed' joint,I said string-handle anchorage being of a serpentine configuration of the string-handle end heat-sealed in said seam flange joint, and said small loop being a portion of said serpentine conguration.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,015,854 Ingram Oct. 1, 1935 6 Eaton Aug. 20, 1946 Salsberg Apr. 26, 1949 Irmscher Doc. 6, 1949 Irmscher Dec. 11, 1951` 

1. IN AN INFUSION PACKAGE HAVING A STRING-HANDLE TERMINATED BY A TAG, A NON-TANGLING POSITIONING CONSTRUCTION FOR SAID STRING-HANDLE AND TAG COMPRISING A TOP CLOSURE SEAM FLANGE OF A FLAT-PILLOW-SHAPED BODY PORTION OF SAID PACKAGE, AN END PORTION OF SAID STRING-HANDLE OPPOSITE SAID TAG ANCHORED TO SAID TOP CLOSURE SEAM FLANGE AND PROVIDED WITH A SMALL LOOP EXTENDING BEYOND THE SEAM FLANGE EDGE, AN ELONGATED MID-PORTION OF SAID STRINGHANDLE BETWEEN SAID STRING-HANDLE ANCHORAGE AND TAG EXTENDING IN SLIP KNOT CONFIGURATION FROM A FRONT SIDE OF SAID BODY PORTION THROUGH SAID SMALL LOOP AND OVER SAID SEAM FLANGE EDGE AND POSITIONED AS A LARGE LOOP LYING FLAT AGAINST A REAR SIDE OF SAID BODY PORTION, A PORTION OF SAID STRING-HANDLE ADJACENT THE TAG BEING REPASSED THROUGH SAID SMALL LOOP AND OVER THE FLANGE EDGE COMPLETING SAID SLIP KNOT CONFIGURATION TO POSITION THE TAG FLAT AGAINST SAID BODY PORTION FRONT SIDE WHEREBY SAID STRING-HANDLE AND TAG ARE TEMPORARILY RETAINED IN SAID FLAT POSITION. 